The Ben Team recently had the pleasure of corresponding with Scott Cassell, CEO and Founder of the Undersea Voyager Project. Scott shared with us his adventures in studying the Giant Humboldt Squid.

Most of us grew up reading and dreaming about Sea Monsters - thinking of them as simply mystical creatures that didn’t exist. For a man named Scott Cassell, such creatures do exist, and instead of dreaming about them, Scott pursues them in the dark depths of the ocean. On occasion, he captures one. And recently, while obtaining a tissue sample, one of them nearly captured Scott – its powerful beak biting through his chain armor and into his skull, creating a gash that required medical attention.

Scott Cassell’s sea monster is otherwise known as the Giant Humboldt squid. His work recently came to the attention of the Ben Team when he purchased a Dissolved Oxygen Temperature Meter that he will use when featured in an upcoming documentary for the Discovery Channel.

Scott Cassell lured a 'small' squid with bait to get a tissue sample.

Scott is President of The Undersea Voyager Project - a non-profit organization that advances and communicates scientific knowledge and understanding of the Oceans to scientists, educators, families, and political figures of every nation. Their goal is to explore, research and document the planet’s oceans, using the most advanced technology created, furthering our knowledge of the most hostile environment on Earth - the deep sea.

Sharing information about the ocean’s interrelationship with the global climate is of the essence when it comes to the health and vitality of our planet. Much has already been done, but even more must take place to educate the public on oceans and climate change.

Scott released a test subject. Notice this small squid has a tiny 'Squid Cam' attached to its Fin. This has brought high success with images of shoal population densities, inter-shoal behavior and even courtship.

In November 2006, Scott and his team were the first to film a Giant Squid in predatory, free swimming behavior (not caught on a jig). The images were captured with a remote camera deployed by Scott with the assistance of his friend, Dale Pearson, while underwater (on SCUBA) and sent to 1,000 fsw (feet sea water) on the back of a living Humboldt Squid. The species and squid's size was unknown, but estimated at over thirty feet in length and quite probably was Architeuthis dux (The Giant Squid).

Just this last July, Scott was the first in history to film the three beating hearts of a still living and healthy Giant Humboldt Squid for a Discovery Channel special. Using the same Endoscopic technology used for human medical procedures, Scott captured the 100 lb squid and performed the exam filming never before seen structures within Giant Humboldt Squid. He intends to do this to a living Antarctic Colossal squid next year.

Scott used PRISM mixed gas electronic controlled rebreather for dives lasting five hours to get his samples. Notice the stainless steel Neptunic chain mail suit.

Scott has been seen on MTV’s WILDBOYZ and his work with Giant Humboldt squid has been featured on over six Discovery Channel productions, four Animal Planet productions, two History Channel productions, two BBC productions and on Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea DVD, where he is shown on a bonus track.

Scott holds a 7ft. Giant Humboldt Squid that weighs approx. 150 lbs. Caught by hand to reduce stress, Scott uses food to entice them to attack him, then he grabs it. Sometimes this turns into a pretty good fight.

You can read more about his adventures and research on his web site.
Click here or follow the link below:
http://underseavoyager.org

Scott can be reached via Email at:
Info@underseavoyager.org

And
scottcassell@hotmail.com